... by making the N64 3D, copying the Playstation, the world's first console with realtime 3d graphics.
...
... at least according to Phil Harrison it's so!
From the same interview where he declares that the PS3 makes PCs irrelevent...
Quote:"When we [Sony] brought PlayStation to the market in 1994, we introduced real-time graphics in 3D for the first time," Harrison commented, apparently dismissing SEGA's Saturn. "When Nintendo released N64 in 1996 and it also used real-time 3D graphics, did we say: 'Nintendo stole our idea!'? No, of course not. Such innovations are made possible because of the combination of technology, cost and manufacturing capacity."
He also "clarified" that in no way does the PS3 controller attempt to copy Revolution functionality. :D
Quote:Harrison also clarified that the PS3 controller design was not a last-minute decision, as some suspected.
"We've been working on that [motion sensitive controller] for a long time," he said, "and Nintendo has no doubt also worked on similar, if not identical innovations for a long time -- that's normal. That's technology. The difference between our strategy and everyone else's is that our controller, the PlayStation Dual Analog Controller, is the de-facto standard for videogames.
Oh, and here's the full quote to put the PC quote in context -- he's trying to say that Live Anywhere isn't a threat because with the PS3 you don't need your PC anyway. :)
Quote:Spiegel Online asked Harrison if he was concerned about the PS3 competing with the Microsoft's Xbox 360's ability to seamlessly network with PCs via Live Anywhere Harrison said, "No, this doesn't concern me and I don't think that it concerns the consumer. When you buy a game console, a primarily entertainment device, then you only want that. We believe that the PS3 will be the place where the users will play, watch movies, surf the web, and use other computer entertainment functionality. The PS3 is a computer. We don't need the PC."
The complete article.
Quote:Sony's Harrison on Wii Controller
Calls allegations that Sony stole Nintendo's montion-sensory concept dumb. Much more inside.
by Kathleen Sanders and Matt Casamassina
May 31, 2006 - The next-gen console war is heating up and going international. In an interview posted today, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios Phil Harrison spoke frankly to Spiegel Online, the online arm of the leading German news magazine, Der Spiegel, about Sony's next-gen console contender, the PlayStation 3.
When asked what he thought of people saying that Sony stole the PS3's motion-sensing controller idea from Nintendo's next-gen Wii, Harrison replied, "In some way, I understand why people are saying that, but it's a bit dumb, if you can forgive the expression."
The Nintendo Wii's motion-sensing controller has an unconventional remote control-like design that works wirelessly via Bluetooth to sense movement and orientation. The controller also uses a speaker and force feedback. Sony's new controller looks very similar to the previous PlayStation 2 controller, but tracks basic tilting motions in several directions.
"When we [Sony] brought PlayStation to the market in 1994, we introduced real-time graphics in 3D for the first time," Harrison commented, apparently dismissing SEGA's Saturn. "When Nintendo released N64 in 1996 and it also used real-time 3D graphics, did we say: 'Nintendo stole our idea!'? No, of course not. Such innovations are made possible because of the combination of technology, cost and manufacturing capacity."
Harrison also clarified that the PS3 controller design was not a last-minute decision, as some suspected.
"We've been working on that [motion sensitive controller] for a long time," he said, "and Nintendo has no doubt also worked on similar, if not identical innovations for a long time -- that's normal. That's technology. The difference between our strategy and everyone else's is that our controller, the PlayStation Dual Analog Controller, is the de-facto standard for videogames.
"I'd estimate that if you include controllers of the same shape from third-parties, more than 400 million were sold world-wide. That means we define the standard for the man-machine interface for games. Now we added an additional dynamic; freedom of motion."
Recently at the Electronic Entertainment Expo the only playable title using Sony's motion-sensing controller was the combat flight game Warhawk. When Phil Harrison was asked how many of the PlayStation 3's games would ultimately use the motion sensing feature of the controller he replied, "I'm expecting that every game uses this function in some way. We all move the controller when we play, whether you're playing a racing or a soccer game. Now, for the first time, we can also capture the primary input, such as the analog sticks, as well as the secondary movements the gamer makes; and then combine the two. This is an important advantage that only the PlayStation 3 controller offers."
Spiegel Online asked Harrison if he was concerned about the PS3 competing with the Microsoft's Xbox 360's ability to seamlessly network with PCs via Live Anywhere Harrison said, "No, this doesn't concern me and I don't think that it concerns the consumer. When you buy a game console, a primarily entertainment device, then you only want that. We believe that the PS3 will be the place where the users will play, watch movies, surf the web, and use other computer entertainment functionality. The PS3 is a computer. We don't need the PC."
Later on though, when asked about what sort of games he'd like to see come to PS3 and what sorts of games he found interesting Harrison emphasized about the importance of the social aspects of gaming, citing community creation in services like MySpace and Second Life as inspiration.
Spiegel Online pushed this issue, saying that to get to something like MySpace people need a PC. To which Harrison replied, "The PS3 has a browser, so you can access MySpace with it as well."
Will gamers want to access the web via their PS3? It remains to be seen, but the interview closed with Harrison hinting that Sony has more plans for the next-gen console to create connections between gamers.
What would you like to see PS3 offer by way of communicating with your friends and other gamers? Let us know in the forums.
It would be the ability to sort folders by the total size of their contents. It's really annoying that you have to right-click on each folder and check the Properties screen... and when you have dozens of folders you want to compare the sizes of... yeah, it's not pretty.
Quote:Besides defending the PS3, Harrison took time to evangelize the device, which will launch worldwide this November. In particular he said the Linux-based operating system on the console's hard drive will have enough processing power and non-gaming functionalities to render traditional PCs--most of which use a form of Microsoft's Windows OS--moot in the home. "We believe that the PS3 will be the place where our users play games, watch films, browse the Web, and use other [home] computer functions," said Harrison. "The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... ... ...hahahahahaha
also, about the controller:
Quote:Harrison went on to say that the PS3's motion-sensitive controller had been in the works for some time. "We have already worked on it a long time, and Nintendo almost certainly has done likewise with something similar," he said. "It is perfectly naturally for two companies to work on [nearly] identical devices. It's like that with technology." He reiterated that the PS2's Dual Shock controller is the "de facto-industry standard for video games. ... We define the standard for the man-machine interface for playing games."
Behold the power of a completely arbitrary top # list! Not sure if they even bothered ranking them or if they just numbered them (and proper suspence dictates that the #1 should have been at the END), but that's a nice selection of badly made stuffs.
It's been too long. I had almost forgotton all too much of this game. It's better than I remember!
I'd make a journal of my progress, Weltall style, but I only thought of it when I was already over halfway t hrough the game. I'll just give you some highlights of WHY I STILL LOVE THIS GAME.
Completed Booster's Tower a bit ago, and yeeks, insane fun. Forgot about all the hilarity in there. If you want the definition of "inept villian", Booster is it. Well not quite, he's not exactly a villian so much as inept at LIFE ITSELF. He's basically completely confused about EVERYTHING.
He rides in on a train and takes off talking about how much fun you are going to have in his tower, then suddenly he gets off his train and runs the other way. Later, you have to play a minigame of dodging the snifits as they search through 4 curtains for Booster's Mario doll (there are 3 snifits, and the way they change their minds in ways that SCREW you is frickin' hilarious in it's insanity). By the end, Booster opens the last one and says "THERE HE IS!". Mario freaks out in typical hilarious Mario fasion before Booster says "it's up there, the doll's above that curtain!". You get the doll down and Booster THANKS you and gives you something for your trouble. After facing "knife guy" and "grate guy", you chase Booster up a hill (a minigame which, once again, Toad comes rushing in to explain) and the little conversation he has with Peach (or Toadstool as she was still known as back then) is comedy gold, as he tied her TO HIS BACK and then seems to have forgotten, so he turns around every time she talks (which in and of itself looks funny) and thinks she's playing hide and seek.
And then off to Marrymore (which as you might imagine is a resort town with a large cathedral where anyone who's anyone goes to get married). Many hilarities ensue, from Mario stepping on, and eventually fighting "ze cake" created by koopa chefs, to booster tasting the streams of tears coming from Peach's eyes "tastes like the sea, what is this liquid?", to Mario and the snifits all running around trying to find her various gear (shoes and crown, which is on Booster's head oblivious to him), which results in various people kissing other people in a bit of confusion (if you did it fast, Peach kisses Mario and Bowser and Booster kiss each other).
And, I love Bowser in this game! He's crying through the game over losing his precious "keep" to the smithy gang, and joins Mario's party. Meeting him in and of itself is funny. He turns around and you see giant tears streaming down his face and he turns right back around and starts talking to himself.
"Ack! He's here! Okay Bowser, gotta get it together."
"Hey how's it going?"
"NO! Not like that dummy! With CONFIDENCE!"
"What are YOU doing here?"
And then, finally, he decides to "do you a favor".
"Alright, I'll let you join the Koopa Troop." And then he forces himself into your party, where he uses chomp chomps as weapons (and also a weapon that lets him throw Mario AT the enemies), and has special abilities which involve snapping his fingers to summon various baddies to attack the enemies (like a big boo, or those mecha koopas).
So now, I've rescued Peach from Booster (who seems to have had a really good time and doesn't seem to have even noticed that a "rescue" was being attempted, and now wonders when the next princess will fall from the sky) and after a reunion at Mushroom Kingdom Castle (first appearence of Toadsworth is in this game, in the form of the Chancellor, and he's as worried about the princess as ever, younger looking though) which involves Bowser and Mario reenacting exactly what happened at the castle and Geno explaining that the star road is needed to grant the wishes of the people and without it, no wishes can ever come true again.
Peach: That's aweful, TERRIBLE! ... Isn't it?
Geno: Yes, for example if you got kidnapped Mario would never rescue you.
Bowser: Really? Then let's just forget about these silly star things anyway.
Peach: Then you can kiss your precious "keep" goodbye!
Bowser: WHAT?! Okay if the star road is gone, the princess is mine, but my castle is gone, and I'll never be able to take over the kingdom, but if the stars are there, then I get my castle back, but Mario will beat me and take the princess and... run that past me again?!
And then Peach sneaks out of the castle later behind the Chancellor's back and she goes into your party.
And so now I've gone past that and through the sea and beat Jonathan Jones the shark pirate and another member of smithy's gang (who forced me to temporarily give up a star by threatening to tickle the locked up townspeople), and have reached Monstro Town. Aside from a not so starry star and getting my arse handed to me by the very VERY tiny but ridiculously powerful "Jynx", master of martial arts, and getting challenged to find some flags by the 3 "musty fears", haven't done much here yet.
Anyway, had to share the retroventure with you because I forgot that this is one of my favorite RPGs evers. Only partly because the battles, as great and innovative (and expanded on in every Mario RPG since this one) as they are are actually less than half the fun to even be found in the game.
Plus, like it needs to be said that getting an invincibility star and instantly winning battle after battle by just running INTO the enemies on the screen and not even going through them is fun in and of itself. Levelups ahoy! (To a maximum of 30, and very SMALL numbers used to calculate experience, getting 10 XP is a LOT :D).
I've been out of the console market for some time now, so I would like to know if there are any more really good GC games coming out that I should be interested in, or has that ship already sank?
I would love to be able to play DS games on the big screen, ala the Game Boy Player for the Gamecube (LOVE THAT THING!). Anyone got anything in the works? Nintendo? Anyone?
